Obituaries

Francis Rinaldi, a lifelong resident of Braintree passed away on Saturday September 4, 2010 at age 91 with his loving family at his bedside. He was a graduate of Braintree High School, class of 1937. While playing baseball on the school team, Francis hit a home run at Fenway Park and was later inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. In the 1940’s he was an outstanding player for the Braintree White Sox semi-pro baseball team which played on French’s Common. In the 1950s he coached the Braintree American Legion Team. In 1954, with Daniel LaPlante and Bill Brooks, he established Little League in Braintree, starting with four teams. Francis coached the Rubber Worker’s Union team. Before retiring in 1982, he worked for Armstrong Cork and was the President of Armstrong Cork Union, Local 22619 from 1950-1981.

He was the beloved husband of Florinda A. Rinaldi. He was the loving father of F. William Rinaldi of Duxbury and Emily M. Zoltowski and her late husband Bruno Zoltowski, of Duxbury; step-father of Raymond L. and Rosemarie Stadig of Hanover, Karen M. Sullivan of Boston and Sherilyn N. and James Harrison of Braintree; dear grandfather of 12 and great-grandfather of 13. Francis was predeceased by his beloved grandson Jeffrey Zoltowzki and is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Services are private.

Donations in memory of Francis may be made to Braintree American Little League, PO Box 850011, Braintree, MA 02185